Probate property - unable to check utilities

FTB2024_uk

Hello,

My partner and I are in the process of buying our first home and have had an offer accepted on a property that has recently gone through probate. 

We have a Level 3 Home Survey booked but this only checks the structural integrity of the property. 

I am concerned regarding the gas/electric/water. The boiler seems relatively new but the property has been empty for around 12 months so the water and electric have been turned off. 

The questions in my head are: 

1. Is the boiler safe to use? The sellers apparently have no information on when the boiler was installed or when/if it was last serviced. 
2. Are there are leaks? We won’t know this as the water is turned off and we cannot check. 

I have seen some suggestions regarding getting a qualified Gas Engineer to service the boiler before we exchange contracts but he won’t be able to do this if there is no water to the property. 

Could anyone advise on how we can move forward with this?

Thank you.

housebuyer143

Have they been turned off or disconnected? If turned off then surely they can just turn them back on again? 
If disconnected then you want to be ensuring they are reconnected before you exchange.

Surrey_EA

I think it's incredibly unlikely that the water has bene completely disconnected. Stopcock turned off perhaps.

Rodders53

I assume you have offered on the basis that there will be leaks (water off but not fully drained down) and the boiler will be kaputt and the electrics need rewired.

Thus you will have sufficient funds set aside for the repairs needed.

You'd need to ask (maybe demand) that the Executors of the Estate facilitate demonstration of all services working at so that you (at your cost) can get a Gas Safe inspection (service can come later), Electrical Inspection and Condition Report and plumbing and drains checks/tests done.

Or don't buy this property.

It's pretty unusual to turn all services off... the norm is to run heating at lowish level to prevent frost and damp /mould setting in.

Herzlos

You should get a boiler serviced annually anyway, so it's going to be due and definitely worth doing before you use it if you can.

Unless there's signs of damage or existing leaks, then both water and boiler should be fine to just start up again. You can always turn them on and listen out for leaks for a while, or if you're worried get a plumber to come for a pressure test and quick inspection of all the accessible bits.

Grizebeck

Servicing it doesn't mean it won't break down 
Don't put to much emphasis on it

user1977

Rodders53 said:

It's pretty unusual to turn all services off... the norm is to run heating at lowish level to prevent frost and damp /mould setting in.

Not that unusual (completely standard for repossessions etc anyway). There might be reluctance by the vendors to allow services to be turned on merely for a test in case a problem then arises and there are quibbles about liability.

The most likely way forward is for the buyer to take the risk. But I would have thought it pretty unlikely that leaks have spontaneously appeared or the boiler wasn't working when it was turned off.

Hoenir

FTB2024_uk said:

Could anyone advise on how we can move forward with this?

Reduce your offer to compensate for the potential risks. 

Bookworm105

until you buy it it is not your property to go in and turn anything on, nor get a tradesperson to do so

approach the vendor and ask them if you can arrange tests is your only way forward
that said, boilers don't become "unsafe" simply because they have been switched off, but recommissioning a central heating system that has been drained down is not a 5 minute job as airlocks will need to be released progressively so expect to pay for more than a simple service.

Bigphil1474

OP, I sold my dad's house last year after probate. It had been empty for nearly a year and we had pretty much shut the house down. We got the boiler serviced, gas and electric checks done by competent people, and brought the house back to life before exchange. Didn't cost us much. Think your choice is to ask the sellers to do the same or knock a bit off the price and do it yourself (depending on how it was priced in the first place).

Rodders53

user1977 said:

Not that unusual (completely standard for repossessions etc anyway).

We are talking Probate, here, not repossessions, though.  

Normal requirement for insurance is to completely drain down or keep things ticking over and have regular checks. We opted for the latter when selling the late in-Laws property (but that only took around four months).

Keeping the fabric of the building working/warm is better than a shut-down over a winter IMHO and I'd have concerns wrt damp and mould in such a property left unheated (and likely unventilated)?